title: Can first aid training encourage individuals' propensity to act in an emergency situation? A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect that different activities included in first aid training can have on an individual's propensity to act in a medical emergency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Additional pilot-developed activities were added to a core first aid training session to create six unique groups, including a control group where no activities were added. Participants rated their agreement to pre-identified fears following the course and scored their self-efficacy and willingness to act before, immediately after and 2 months after the course. Change values were compared between groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three locations in the UK (community halls, schools).
  
  
  METHODS
  554 members of the public were recruited using advertising and community groups. A deliberately broad demographic was sought and achieved using targeted approaches where a particular demographic was deficient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each participant attended one British Red Cross first aid course lasting 2 h.
  
  
  METHODS
  The same questionnaire was completed by all participants before and after each course. Two months later all participants were asked a series of follow-up questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All courses showed an increase in self-efficacy and willingness to act immediately following the course. The course, which included both factual information relevant to helping in an emergency and 'helper' identity activities, produced significantly more positive responses to pre-identified fears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activities which allow the learner to explore and discuss behaviour in an emergency situation can effectively increase the learner's propensity to act. First aid education should be expanded to support the learner to develop both the skill and the will to help.
authors.affiliation: First Aid Education, British Red Cross, London, UK.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: First Aid Education, British Red Cross, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: First Aid Education, British Red Cross, London, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McKinney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D060731:Emergency Responders / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: education; effectiveness; first responders; prehospital care